Davis, Bost support WASP recognition bill

U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., and Mike Bost, R-Ill., among others, voted in favor of H.R. 4336, the WASP Arlington Inurnment Restoration Act, after the Secretary of the Army recently rescinded inurnment rights for WASP members. Davis cosponsored the bill, which passed the House with unanimous support and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

H.R. 4336 would ensure nearly 1,100 women pilots who served their country during World War II, including Dora Dougherty Strother, who flew B-29 bombers in WWII and later became a flight instructor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, receive full recognition for their service. WASPs underwent the same training as male pilots and assumed the same risks, Davis said in a release — 38 women died during their service. There are roughly 110 surviving WASPs today.

“Members of the WASP provided an invaluable service to our country during WWII and like so many who serve put their lives on the line for our freedom,” said Davis. “Pilots like Dora deserve full recognition for their service and the same honors we award other war heroes. I urge the Senate to consider this legislation soon so we can restore this honor to these courageous women still living today.”

WASP included a station at Lawrenceville, Illinois.

“As our entire nation mobilized to fight evil and tyranny during World War II, many women participated in the war effort as members of WASP,” said Bost. “They left their homes, families and previous occupations to fight for our freedoms; now they deserve full veteran’s status for their service. That begins with giving these heroes full burial rights at Arlington National Cemetery.”